http://feeds.feedburner.com/themusicpostwithsampost © 2014 Sam Post http://www.samueljpost.com/podcast en-us A podcast for exploring what makes great music great. Sam Post The Music Post is committed to the idea that anyone and everyone can enjoy classical music, and can enjoy it more fully. Whether you're a novice listener looking to gain an appreciation for classical music, or a seasoned concert-goer trying to deepen your knowledge and expand your listening repertoire, the Music Post is for you. Each episode you'll get to know some music new or old as the host tells you about each piece and plays example excerpts to inform and guide your listening. You'll learn about the charm of Mozart, the intensity of Beethoven, the unparalelled beauty of Bach, and much more. Above all, you'll find out what makes these pieces compelling, and maybe fall in love with a few along the way. The Music Post is committed to the idea that anyone and everyone can enjoy classical music, and can enjoy it more fully. Whether you're a novice listener looking to gain an appreciation for classical music, or a seasoned concert-goer trying to deepen your knowledge and expand your listening repertoire, the Music Post is for you. Each episode you'll get to know some music new or old as the host tells you about each piece and plays example excerpts to inform and guide your listening. You'll learn about the charm of Mozart, the intensity of Beethoven, the unparalelled beauty of Bach, and much more. Above all, you'll find out what makes these pieces compelling, and maybe fall in love with a few along the way. Sam Post samueljpost@gmail.com no The meditative opening number to one of Bach's final masterpieces Sam Post We begin our exploration of the Art of Fugue and look closely at the opening number, Contrapunctus 1 http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep1.mp3 http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep1.mp3 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 15:17:32 GMT The intense, unstable and dissonant third member of the Art of Fugue. Sam Post We continue our exploration of Bach's final masterpiece with a close look at the third fugue. Along the way, we learn more about how Bach's extreme dissonances and chromatic adventures. http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/mp_2_final.mp3 http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/mp_2_final.mp3 Mon, 20 Oct 2014 09:00:00 GMT Guest Ralitza Patcheva joins to talk about and play Contrapunctus 6 from Bach's Art of Fugue Sam Post In this episode, we learn about the counterfugues from the Art of Fugue, about how Bach's inclusion of the French style affects the piece on the whole, and about the relative advantages of the harpsichord and the piano. http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/mp_ralitza_final.mp3 http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/mp_ralitza_final.mp3 Sun, 26 Oct 2014 09:00:00 GMT Exlporing the most popular performance piece from the Art of Fugue on piano and organ. Sam Post In this episode, we look at Contrapunctus 9 as a microcosm for Bach's compositions more generally, and begin to see how he perfectly balances repetition with unpredictability in his music. http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep4.mp3 http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep4.mp3 Sun, 02 Nov 2014 11:59:00 GMT One of Mozart's transcendant opera numbers Sam Post In this episode, we listen to the popular terzetto from Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte, and talk about how opera fits in (perhaps not so seamlessly) to the culture of classical music today. http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep5_revised.mp3 http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep5_revised.mp3 Sun, 09 Nov 2014 20:00:00 GMT Listening to and comparing performances of Chopin's C minor nocturne, op. 48 Sam Post In this episode, we listen to Chopin's great C minor nocturne, with short excerpts from different pianists. You'll learn about how pianists navigate the challenges of Chopin's music and get to know one of his finest miniature masterpieces. http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep6.mp3 http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep6.mp3 Sat, 29 Nov 2014 20:00:00 GMT Some unconventional takes on a classic holiday tune. Sam Post From Thanksgiving until Christmas day, we're barraged with holiday-themed music, but so much of it is bland, generic and worn. In this episode, we listen to some Christmas music that's really worth getting excited about, and find out what distinguishes it from the seventeen versions you'll hear in the supermarket in the next couple of weeks. Featuring excerpts from Gabriela Montero and Oscar Peterson. http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep7_revised.mp3 http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep7_revised.mp3 Sun, 14 Dec 2014 23:59:00 GMT The perfect cure for your Serial hangover (parody included). Sam Post A Serial parody, dueling pianos, and a unique look at the collaboration of performer and composer, all wrapped in a history of one of the most beautiful Christmas carols. Guest artist Ralitza Patcheva returns with a rousing performance. http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep8.mp3 http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep8.mp3 Sun, 21 Dec 2014 23:59:00 GMT Exploring the Bach pieces that launched a life of music worship. Sam Post This week, we get personal, with a look at the very first piece that captivated me, and how it fits in the set of pieces of Bach wrote for his eldest son. As compelling for me today as they were when I was a child, you'll hear what makes these pieces great, and get the details on one of them in particular. http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep9.mp3 http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep9.mp3 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 04:00:00 GMT Three more of the short pieces that show us why Bach is Bach. Sam Post He can delight us, and he can throw us into darkness with these short keyboard pieces. But what brings them together, how do they shed light on his music? These are the questions we'll be exploring today as we listen to and learn about three more brilliant miniatures of Bach's. http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep10.mp3 http://www.samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpost_ep10.mp3 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 03:00:00 GMT Guest pianist Yuliya Gorenman tells her story and plays a special piece by Scriabin. Sam Post Two tales of seizing opportunities and making the most of them: a flight from Soviet Russia to an unknown place, and overcoming injury to become a world-renowned composer. http://www.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep11_yg.mp3 http://www.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep11_yg.mp3 Wed, 04 Mar 2015 08:00:00 GMT Learning about the ragtime tradition born in the early 1900's, and pitting four modern rags against each other in a ragtime competition. Sam Post This week, we hear four rags by living composers, use them as an opportunity to learn what distinguishes ragtime from classical traditions and jazz that followed, and generally discover that they're awesome. http://www.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep12_rags.mp3 http://www.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep12_rags.mp3 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT Making space for spontaneous creation in classical culture. Sam Post The first in a many-part series on classical improvisation: what is it, what makes it special, why is it so rare, and why should we care? We delve into the science and the stories behind the people who are figuring all that out, and listen to some delicious music in the meantime. Featuring jazz pianist Paul Bratcher, neuroscience researcher Charles Limb of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and pianist Carlos Rodriguez. http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep13-2_1.mp3 http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep13-2_1.mp3 Tue, 16 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT Lessons from, and the joy of, a carefully constructed piece. Sam Post In today's short episode, you'll hear a new piece, and learn the basics of open and closed phrases and how they create and resolve tension in music. http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep14_apple_tree_1.mp3 http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep14_apple_tree_1.mp3 Sun, 05 Jul 2015 07:00:00 GMT Two variations from Bach's colossal, magnificent set Sam Post In the first episode about the Goldberg Variations by Bach, we acquaint ourselves with the beautiful, serene variation 13 and the dazzling 14. You'll hear sections from different pianists, but also hear excerpts on the harpsichord string trio, before the hearing the variations back-to-back from the Music Post studio. http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep15gb1314.mp3 http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep15gb1314.mp3 Mon, 20 Jul 2015 08:00:00 GMT Two canon variations from Bach's masterpiece Sam Post Today, you'll hear about two of the nine canons from the Goldberg Variations, variations that are truly astonishing for their craft and construction. Hear what makes them special, get to know two of them more closely, and hear them in performances. http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep16-gv12-6.mp3 http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep16-gv12-6.mp3 Fri, 07 Aug 2015 06:00:00 GMT The messy, uncomfortable relationship between pop and classical music. Sam Post Together, we explore the intersection of pop and classical. I debate myself on the proper role of popular music in the life of the devoted musician, compare excerpts from Bach, Mozart, Madonna and Shakira, and play a composition of yours truly, inspired in unlikely fashion by a pop icon. http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep17kesha.mp3 http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep17kesha.mp3 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 06:00:00 GMT Music Post live from September 20, 2015. Sam Post An extended episode, live from the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. An all-American program, along with commentary, including music of yours truly, Wild/Gershwin and William Bolcom. http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep18-kc.mp3 http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep18-kc.mp3 Thu, 08 Oct 2015 5:00:00 GMT A new segment with friend and colleague, pianist/improviser-extraordinaire Carlos Rodriguez. Sam Post Listen to the creation of new music, live on the spot, on one and two pianos. http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep19-carlos-1.mp3 http://samueljpost.com/uploads/1/2/5/1/125199/musicpostep19-carlos-1.mp3 Sun, 01 Nov 2015 4:00:00 GMT